What is the environmental hazard of plastics? Plastic utensils and bags. Influence on man and nature. Some research by scientists on the dangers of plastic

Plastic has rapidly entered the life of modern man. Now plastic products are all around us. This synthetic material is widely used for the storage and consumption of food and water. Let's learn more about the composition of plastic bottles.

What's wrong with plastic utensils?

We will not escalate the situation: just read and draw conclusions.

The human body is under chemical attack from all sides, but the worst thing is that we do not even notice it. But then we are surprised, it is not clear where the illnesses and ailments come from.

And all because we are accustomed to unconditionally trust the opinion of the crowd. A typical manifestation of the herd instinct. In the system, it is considered right to be like everyone else and to accept without fail what is given, and not to think, and even more so not to be aware.

« Don't think, just consume! ' is the motto of our time. The system does not care about our health, the system is only busy with self-preservation and absorption of everything that it can reach.

Now is the time when the health of the buyer for the manufacturer means nothing. Just business, nothing personal. Profit comes first, nothing else matters. It doesn't matter if the buyer dies a couple of decades earlier, and irreparable damage will be done to the environment. The main thing is to have time to weld now, and after, as they say, at least a flood. This is the true face of capitalism, when money comes first.

If in the Stone Age people had to protect themselves from animal predators, now we are forced to fight against the same predators in the face of corporations with animal habits. The purpose of which is simple and understandable - the satisfaction of the lower instincts, that is, money, money, money, and everything else does not matter.

Yes, it's not easy to maintain your health in the modern world! Even such trifles as plastic dishes and bottles also contribute to the destruction of human health. Let's find out the details about the harm of plastic and, of course, figure out how to avoid this harm.

Harm of plastic bottles

Why are plastic bottles dangerous?

It turns out that the composition of such containers may contain the chemical bisphenol-A.

It is a synthetic analogue of the female sex hormone.

And this harmful substance from the plastic bottle is able to penetrate into water or liquid, and then into the human body.

If you drink water from plastic bottles, then you increase the content of bisphenol in the body. A high concentration of this substance greatly harms a person. Let's find out exactly what the danger is.

• Bisphenol has a harmful effect on boys and young men. Even a slight increase in the concentration of this substance can lead to a malfunction of the hormonal glands. Due to the poisoning of the body with bisphenol-A, upon reaching puberty, there is a high probability of a violation of the process of creating spermatozoa.
• For men, water from plastic bottles is no less harmful. First, an increased concentration of bisphenol increases the likelihood of prostate cancer. Secondly, bisphenol has a negative impact on men's health, as the hormonal background is disturbed.
• Girls and women are also susceptible to the negative effects of BPA. This harmful chemical contributes to early puberty in girls and can also trigger the development of breast cancer in women. Women's reproductive functions also suffer.
• It is generally contraindicated for pregnant women to drink water from plastic bottles, since due to bisphenol poisoning, a child may be born with birth defects, for example, with disorders in the cardiovascular system. Hormonal problems are no less likely. Scientists suggest that bisphenol-A can even have a negative effect on the structure of DNA.

So, the harm of plastic bottles lies in the contamination of the human body with a foreign chemical substance - bisphenol-A. Which, in turn, leads to general intoxication of the body and the consequences listed above.

« But after all, everyone drinks water from plastic and nothing ... "- you say. Let's figure out in which case plastic bottles are dangerous.

1⃣ Firstly, it all depends on the regularity of drinking water from plastic bottles. Scientists at Harvard University conducted a study and found that drinking cold plastic liquids for just one week increased the level of bisphenol in the urine by 69%.

2⃣ Secondly, the release of bisphenol depends on temperature. The higher the temperature, the more active the contamination of water with bisphenol from plastic. That is, the usual summer heat can increase the concentration of a harmful substance in water tenfold. Well, if you fill it with hot liquid or specially heat plastic bottles, then the release of bisphenol will increase up to 55 times! This fact should be known to parents who warm milk in plastic bottles for their children.

What to do? It is necessary to reduce the intake of bisphenol in the body. This means less use of plastic bottles. Replacing them, for example, with glass ones, will positively affect your health.

You can also look for BPA-free plastic bottles: some manufacturers, sensing increased demand and, accordingly, the smell of money, began to produce safer containers for liquids. This is indicated on the packaging. Of course, in addition to bisphenol, there may be other harmful substances there, but at least you will get rid of the most harmful. That is, all we need is to show a little more awareness in everyday life.

Disposable plastic utensils have become equally widespread over the past decades. There are several types of plastic utensils depending on the composition, and each material has certain disadvantages. The composition of the plastic is indicated on the dishes themselves in the form of a triangle with a number, so you can always find out what your plastic dishes are made of.

1. Polyethylene terephthalate (PET) . These are disposable cups, plates, jars, boxes, bottles. Dangerous if reused or heated. Even ordinary heat (28°C) increases the rate of release of harmful substances into water or food stored in pet dishes by 10 times.

2. High density polyethylene (HDPE). Bags, mugs, jars, bottles are made from this material. Do not expose to high temperatures. Otherwise, a carcinogen, formaldehyde, is released from such plastic dishes, which is very harmful to the human body.

3. Polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Plastic bottles and cling film are made from polyvinyl chloride. If the operating conditions are not observed, harmful toxic substances are released - phthalates, dioxide, bisphenol-A, heavy metals and vinyl chloride. Attention! Do not heat, cool (including in the refrigerator), contact with fatty foods is prohibited.

4. Low pressure polyethylene (LDPE). It is used for the manufacture of flexible plastic packaging, bottles (for vegetable oil), bags, containers for storing detergents. When heated, it releases a carcinogenic poison - formaldehyde. Please note: often in fast food establishments they microwave food directly in plastic bags. You can't do that!

5. Polypropylene (PP). It is used in the manufacture of food packaging film, yogurt cups, plates, spoons, forks, caps, baby bottles, hot food containers. Withstands temperatures up to 100°C. However, alcohol should not be drunk from this plastic, and fatty foods should not be eaten. Well, it is not recommended to heat above 100 ° Celsius. If polypropylene is used incorrectly, then a crushing blow to the kidneys and vision can be dealt.

6. Polystyrene (PS). These are trays and containers for storing food, spoons and forks, glasses. Do not heat polystyrene dishes, including drinking hot drinks from them. Do not use polystyrene for storing / drinking alcohol. The dishes are intended exclusively for cold food. In case of violation of operating conditions, it releases styrene into food or water, which is a carcinogen and chemical estrogen that adversely affects reproductive functions.

7. A mixture of different plastics (OTHER). These are plastic dishes made of various materials. The composition can be different: for example, water coolers, common in offices, are most often made of polycarbonate. Polycarbonate, with prolonged use or heating, releases the toxic element bisphenol-a, which disrupts the physiological processes in the body and leads to hormonal imbalance.

So, we have considered all the materials from which plastic dishes are made. The conclusion is simple - any plastic utensils are harmful in one way or another.

How often do you look at what plastic is made of? Probably not much. But after all, it’s not a hunt to be poisoned ... Therefore, you either need to carefully look at the composition of the plastic and use it without violating the rules of operation. Or (which is preferable) try to limit the use of plastic utensils in everyday life as much as possible. So you definitely save yourself from the harm of plastic utensils. And you don’t have to remember whether or not this material can be used in certain conditions.

CONCLUSION

Plastic is everywhere. By reducing its use, you will free up the resources of your body. Previously, these resources were used mainly to eliminate the effects of permanent synthetic intoxication. Now you can direct the released forces to something really necessary!

Yes, giving up plastic dishes and bottles is not so easy. The system is to blame for everything - it is beneficial for you to be in constant employment, snack on synthetic fast food on the go and work, work, work. No free energy, no self-improvement. Your body should only more or less function for the benefit of the system. You must be obedient to the cogs in the mechanism, for everything else you should not have the strength and energy left. Your resources should only be enough to crawl home and hang in front of a TV or computer.

Plastic dishes play a role in our enslavement - being in constant intoxication, we will never go out of order. For all the forces will be spent on the most important thing - cleansing the body and maintaining life.

Perhaps I exaggerated a little. But just to convey one simple idea: only you can take care of your health, no one else needs it.

It is worth paying more attention to the operating conditions of each plastic product. And if you have the opportunity to completely eliminate plastic utensils from your diet or just use them less often, then do it, and your body will definitely accept such changes with gratitude.

More Related:

The benefits and harms of green tea for the human body The health benefits and harms of pine nuts The benefits and harms of walnuts for human health The benefits and harms of barley porridge for the human body Composition, benefits and harms of sunflower halva

PVC (polyvinyl chloride material or just vinyl) is today the cheapest, and therefore the most common, type of plastic. PVC is mainly used in construction areas (building cladding, plastic windows, wall panels, pipes, etc.) and less than 20% of products made from this type of plastic are used in household and other areas of life. Moreover, in Russia this figure is almost 50%, while in Europe they try to refuse this type of plastic as much as possible. Why is this happening? After all, the advantages of PVC are obvious: cheapness, practicality, strength ...

In Europe, the name has long been fixed for PVC "poison plastic" (poison plastic). The harm of polyvinyl chloride for the environment and human health is enormous: it not only contains many dangerous components, but also emits poisonous gas when heated or burned.

Unfortunately the material polyvinyl chloride - a very common type of plastic. It can be found everywhere. This includes linoleum in the apartment, plastic windows, stretch ceilings, vinyl wallpaper, and plastic toys (from dental rings that kids put in their mouths to dolls), and different types of packaging (bags, bottles, food containers).

When buying PVC products, you should remember:

To make polyvinyl chloride elastic, plasticizers are added to it, which, when entering the body, reduce its immune properties, and can also cause damage to the kidneys and liver, cause infertility and cancer. This is the main harm of PVC. In addition, PVC may contain other hazardous elements: chromium, cadmium, lead, etc.

The advantages of PVC are absolutely incomparable with the danger posed by burning polyvinyl chloride material. During combustion, up to 50 mg of harmful dioxins are formed from 1 kg of polyvinyl chloride. This amount is capable of causing cancerous tumors in about 50,000 small laboratory animals.

There is no safe technology for PVC processing, as well as for the production of PVC products. Polyvinyl chloride material is not recyclable, and the highly toxic dioxins released during the disposal of products made from this plastic spread over thousands of kilometers.

The production of PVC products carries no less danger to the environment. The harm of plastic windows, for example, lies in the fact that 20 g of toxic waste is generated during the manufacture of one window. A complete apartment renovation using polyvinyl chloride generates about 1 kg of toxic waste.

How to identify PVC products?

In countries that monitor the environmental situation and give preference to safe materials, it is customary to mark types of plastic - put an icon with a number surrounded by arrows. In Russia, the labeling of plastic products is still optional, which means that all plastic products have such a label, but it is also useful for us to know what this or that sign means.

1. PETE or PET (polyethylene terphthalate) - a type of plastic used in the manufacture of bottles, boxes, cans and other packaging for bottling water, juices and soft drinks. This material is also used in packaging for powders and bulk food products. Polyethylene terphthalate is one of the most common and safest types of plastic. In addition, it is highly recyclable.

2. HDPE or LDPE (high pressure polyethylene). This type of plastic is used in the manufacture of bags and mugs for water or milk, bottles for shampoos, bleaches, cleaners and detergents, canisters for machine oils. It is considered a safe type of plastic, lends itself well to recycling and recycling.

3. PVC or PVC (polyvinyl chloride) belongs to one of the most dangerous types of plastic. We are talking about him today. It is used for the packaging of cleaning liquids, the production of windows, pipes, wall and floor coverings, garden furniture, stretch ceiling films, oilcloths, blinds, bathroom screens, etc. Food containers and children's toys can also be made from it. However, the harm from PVC is quite large, because it contains heavy metals and plasticizers, which can cause damage to the kidneys and liver, infertility, and cancer. At the same time, it is difficult to process, and when burned, it releases dangerous poisons into the air - carcinogenic dioxides. If possible, it is better to abandon this type of plastic or reduce its use to a minimum.

4. LDPE or HDPE (low pressure polyethylene) - a type of plastic that is used to make plastic bottles and other flexible plastic packaging. Thanks to this material, we have plastic bags. This kind of polyethylene is also a safe plastic.

5. PP or PP (polypropylene) far from the most durable type of plastic, but absolutely harmless to the environment and human health. Polypropylene is mainly used for lids, discs, yogurt cups, syrup and ketchup bottles. This plastic is also used for the manufacture of children's products: toys, feeding bottles, etc.

6. PS or PS (polystyrene) - a type of plastic resulting from the polymerization of carcinogenic styrene. Hence its harmful action. And although polystyrene is often used to make dishes, cutlery, egg containers or meat trays, it is better to refuse such products.

7. OTHER or OTHER. This category includes polymers blends of various plastics not listed above. For example, polycarbonate is a dangerous type of plastic that, when heated or washed frequently, releases a substance that causes hormonal disorders in the human body. But harmless environmentally friendly plastics can also be marked with this figure.

What plastic and plastic what types exist, what are their dangers and how can they be avoided.

Plastic and plastic surround us in everyday life everywhere. Starting from disposable tableware and ending with diapers. But have you ever wondered what they are done s and how they can affect our body and health in general?

Even in school, I knew that plastic and plastic have a destructive effect on the environment.

A simple plastic water bottle will take about 600!!! years to only partially decompose! And how many of these bottles do people buy every day around the world?

Unfortunately, Russia has not yet begun to recycle plastic. And even if only because of this, it is possible and necessary to limit its use.

No one has mentioned before what impact plastic and plastic can have directly on our body.

You will probably ask how it can influence us at all, we don’t eat it?!?

I want to upset you, but the chemicals present in plastic dishes and other plastic things enter our body not only through the food and drinks in which they were stored, but can also enter the lungs or penetrate the skin, and then to the circulatory system and spread throughout the body.

Plastic and its danger

The danger is that along with non-natural chemicals, plastics and plastics also contain toxins. And these toxins get into the food that they store and which we then consume.

Research is even more frightening, saying that these substances can penetrate the skin barrier and the respiratory system. Even a tiny amount of these substances is enough to disrupt the delicate balance of our body.

The most common plastic toxins are Bisphenol-A and Phthalate. These substances give the plastic elasticity and strength.

Unfortunately, they affect our body in a completely different way. They completely knock down our hormonal balance, as they are pseudo-hormones, which leads to serious consequences.

Bisphenol-A (Bispehol-A) A synthetic substance used in the manufacture of plastics and rubber. According to the latest data, more than 95% of people will have Bisphenol-A detected when they give urine for analysis. Once in the body, BPA behaves like the female hormone estrogen. Read more .

Phthalate is an industrial chemical added to plastic to make it flexible and strong. In our body, it mimics the male hormone testosterone, with all the ensuing consequences.

The effect of pseudotoxins on our body:

• Reduce the protective function of the immune system.

• Lead to irreversible changes in brain cells.

• Damage liver cells.

• Contribute to the development of diseases of the heart and circulatory system.

• Increase the risk of developing diabetes.

• Accelerate puberty.

• They have carcinogenic activity, that is, they provoke the development of cancer cells.

Even if plastic and plastic are labeled "BPA free", "BPA free" - this does not mean that they are safe. Often manufacturers simply start using Bisphenol-C, which can be even more toxic.

Types of plastic and plastic

Take any plastic or plastic thing and look at its back surface. It is there that numbers are usually stamped, giving us, consumers, a rough idea of ​​what we are purchasing.

This is my latest discovery. I think a lot of people still don't have a clue. Enlighten:

• #1 PET(Polyethylene Terephtalate / Polyethylene Terephthalate) is recognized as safe, but the possibility of migration of metal elements has been proven.

• #2 HDPE(High Density Polyethylene / High Density Polyethylene) is considered a low-hazard plastic, but scientists do not deny the possibility of washing out hormone-altering substances in it.

• #3 PVC(Polyvinyl Chloride/Polyvinylchloride) is considered hazardous to health, contains a type of Phthalate, which has increased toxicity.

• #4 LDPE(Low Density Polyethylene) is equated to low hazard plastic.

• #5PP(Polypropylene / Polypropylene) of all plastics is considered the safest.

• #6 PS(Polystyrene / Polystyrene or Styrofoam) is very toxic, since the Sterol contained in it provokes the development of cancer cells.

• #7 (All others or<кот в мешке>) is the most dangerous and unpredictable, as it may contain a mixture of 6 of the above or other chemicals. According to recent data, it is this type that contains the highest amount of Bisphenol-A.

I want to note that even plastic and plastic , named in this list as safe, is not. Bisphenol-A and Phthalates can also migrate from #5 Polypropylene.

So the safest bet is to avoid all plastic and plastic and go for glass, wood, metal and paper.

How to avoid using plastic and plastic

• Do not buy water in plastic bottles. Buy yourself a stainless steel bottle.

• Do not buy or use plastic bags. Get a couple of reusable bags made from more natural materials.

• Replace plastic utensils and food storage containers with glass ones. And if you still use the microwave (you can read microwave oven is dangerous) never use plastic utensils, even those specially designed for them.

• Do not heat plastic utensils. When the temperature rises, the rate of flow of chemicals into food increases. Drinking hot tea or coffee from a plastic mug ingests up to 50% more Bisphenol-A into your body.

• If you can't refuse plastic utensils, then at least get rid of scratched and damaged ones, as this increases the risk of seeping toxins.

• Avoid iron cans. Bisphenol-A and Phthalate are frequent guests there.

• These hormonal destroyers are especially dangerous for a child's, still undeveloped organism. Avoid children's rubber toys, especially those of poor quality. Most baby plastic bottles contain Bisphenol-A and Phthalates. Please buy glass or metal utensils for your baby. Try to avoid using diapers as they also contain these chemicals.

I will not hide it, but I have been a fan of plastic and plastic products for many years. They conquered me with durability, convenience and, of course, price.

The most common polymeric materials (types of plastic):

• Polyvinyl chloride (PVC)
• Polypropylene
• Polyethylene
• Polystyrene
• Polycarbonate

They produce both technical and food plastics.

Plastics used for the production of products that come into contact with food and children's assortment are subject to mandatory examination for compliance with sanitary and hygienic standards and are certified. The manufacturer is required to label his products. Food plastic has a generally accepted label - "glass and fork." It may say that it is intended for cold, bulk or hot products, for use in a microwave oven or for freezing, sometimes a temperature range is indicated.

For example, “Snowflakes” means that the container is suitable for freezing food, “wave oven” means that food can be heated in the microwave in the dishes, and “shower plates” indicate that the containers can be washed in the dishwasher. This marking is also used by some Russian manufacturers.

Harm

Harm of plastic

Plastic in its pure form is rather fragile, brittle material - it cracks in the light, melts from heat. For strength, stabilizers are added to it. This makes the plastic stronger, but also more toxic. Because of this, it appears damage to plastic utensils.

The polymers themselves are inert, non-toxic and do not "migrate" into food. But here are intermediate substances, processing aids, solvents, as well as chemical decomposition products that can penetrate into food and have a toxic effect on humans. Under certain conditions, plastic releases toxic compounds that, when ingested, adversely affect human health.

This process can occur during storage of products or when they are heated. In addition, polymeric materials are subject to change (aging), as a result of which degradation products are released from them. Moreover, different types of plastic become toxic under different conditions - some cannot be heated, others cannot be washed, etc. Improper operation becomes the main reason harm to plastic utensils.

American scientists claim that up to 80% of the "plastic" substances found in the human body get there from building and finishing materials, in particular, from such popular plastic windows, furniture, but most of all from dishes: all kinds of compounds pass from food plastic into products. nutrition. Domestic manufacturers assure that certified plastic utensils are absolutely safe - if used for their intended purpose.

Benefit

Pros of plastic utensils

Compactness, lightness, hygiene, low cost, ease of use allow you to use plastic utensils outside the home - on the road, in nature, etc. It does not require washing or cleaning. Therefore, the need for the use of plastic tableware is growing. Plastic utensils are also used by fast food restaurants, summer cafes and eateries.

Plastic food utensils: how to use

To plastic utensils did no harm health, it must be used strictly for its intended purpose. Food plastic of different brands has different properties. One brand of this polymer raw material is intended for the production of water bottles, the other is for bottles with carbonated drinks. Yogurt cups are made of plastic of a grade that makes it possible to produce a light and cheap container by casting, while being neutral with respect to milk fat, and pudding cups must resist sugar.

Experts insist: in no case should plastic packaging be used as food storage containers, and disposable tableware should not be used repeatedly. Disposable packaging should only be used once.

How plastic will react to contact with ingredients for which it was not intended, what compounds can be formed in this case, no one has investigated. Especially insidious are fats and acids, which can draw free toxic compounds out of plastic.

Foods high in sugar and fat should not be cooked in plastic containers. They are heated to the melting point and deformation of the plastic. It is necessary to cook them in special dishes that can withstand heating up to 140, 180 or more C.

When reusing disposable plastic utensils, its outer protective layer is damaged, and carcinogenic substances - formaldehydes, phenol, cadmium, lead - begin to be released.

Do not drink alcohol from disposable plastic cups. Any plastic contains toxic substances that do not dissolve in ordinary cold drinks, but do not withstand the chemical attack of alcohol.

The release of all kinds of compounds from plastic is greatly enhanced by heating. Therefore, only special containers designed for this purpose may be used in the microwave oven.

At home, immediately remove the packaging film from the products. Cut off the top layer from food stored in plastic packaging.

Do not use disposable packaging for food storage. Store food in glass and ceramic containers. Try to avoid plastic-packed products whenever possible, preferring loose ones.

Buy baby food only in glass or cardboard. Do not use plastic utensils for baby food. Do not microwave food in plastic containers.

Do not keep water in pitcher filters for a long time. In the morning and evening, replace the remaining water with fresh water. A cloudy plastic water jug ​​should be thrown away.

Also, the disposable packaging was not intended for washing, so the result can be unpredictable.

Any polymeric material ages under the influence of light, heat, heating and contact with various substances. Then it becomes cloudy, absorbs odors and ingredients from the contents and releases toxic substances.

Food manufacturers indicate that the shelf life applies not only to the product itself, but also to the packaging. This is especially true for canned goods. For example, they can detect a toxic substance - biphenol.

Plastic film containing biphenol is lined on the inside of cans to keep the metal from coming into contact with food. From here, biphenol can pass into the contents.

It is advisable to replace canned food with fresh or frozen foods.

Transfer food from opened cans to glass containers, even if we are talking about short-term storage (under the influence of oxygen, the corrosion of cans increases sharply and the content of lead and tin in food begins to increase rapidly).

Toxins can accumulate in the body for years, undermining health. Even small amounts are poisonous if exposed for a long time.

Buy food, plastic utensils and cling film only from reputable manufacturers and only in reliable stores.

To date, there are disposable tableware made from environmentally friendly materials - cane, bamboo, eggshell-based, as well as paper tableware made of cardboard.

ADDITIONALLY

Labeling of plastic utensils

To simplify the sorting of plastic, a special international marking has been developed - triangles formed by arrows with a number inside. The number indicating the type of plastic is located inside the triangle. Below the triangle is an alphabetic abbreviation indicating the type of plastic.

PET Polyethylene terphthalate: bottles for carbonated drinks, water, juices, dairy products, vegetable oils, cosmetics, etc.

Frozen ready meals in trays that can be reheated in the microwave or oven are made from crystallized polyethylene terphthalate. Its properties remain unchanged in the range from -40º to +250ºС. True, some brands may lose the necessary heat resistance after they have undergone deep cooling.

Buy drinks only in PET bottles and do not reuse them.

PP Polypropylene: medical products, bottle caps, hot dishes, food packaging film

Polypropylene utensils (PP marking) are safer. The polypropylene glass maintains temperature to +100 °C. From polypropylene glasses you can drink hot tea or coffee, in plates from it you can heat food in the microwave. But upon contact with strong drinks and alcohol, it releases formaldehyde or phenol. If you drink vodka from such a glass, not only the kidneys suffer, but also the eyesight. Formaldehyde is also considered a carcinogen.

PS Polystyrene: disposable tableware, cups for dairy products, yogurt, electrical insulation film

Polystyrene is indifferent to cold liquids. But when polystyrene dishes come into contact with hot water or alcohol, it begins to release a toxic compound (monomers) - styrenes. Hot foods are not recommended to be placed in polystyrene plates. Plates made of polystyrene are often used in summer cafes for barbecue. And along with hot meat and ketchup, the client also receives a dose of toxins - styrenes, which accumulate in the liver and kidneys.

Disposable cups can only be used for water. It is better not to drink acidic juices, soda, hot and strong drinks from them. Some coffee machines use polystyrene cups. That is, hot coffee or tea cannot be drunk from them.

When purchasing instant products (those that only need to be poured with boiling water), pay attention to the packaging (cup, bag, plate). Although Rospotrebnadzor and certification bodies monitor the safety of materials, nevertheless, manufacturers often use polystyrene packaging. Therefore, it is better to transfer products to ceramic or enameled dishes and then pour boiling water over them.

Refrigerate food before placing it in the container. For hot food and microwave use only special utensils.

If there is no marking on the plastic, you can distinguish PS from PP by touch - polystyrene crunches and breaks, and polypropylene crumples. Also, the main distinguishing feature of polystyrene bottles is the bluish color of the container. And when pressing with a fingernail on PS plastic, a whitish scar (stripe) always remains, on PP plastic, the container will remain smooth.

HDP High density polyethylene: packaging bags, garbage bags

PVC Polyvinyl chloride: building and finishing materials, furniture, shoes, medical products, water bottles, food packaging film

Synthetic poison dioxin can be released from PVC dishes in cases of heating food in microwave ovens, freezing water in freezers. Dioxins accumulate in human adipose tissue and are not excreted from the body for a very long time (up to 30 years). The released dioxin causes cancer (especially breast cancer).

LDP Low density polyethylene (low pressure): bottles for detergents and edible vegetable oils, toys, pipes, plastic bags.

Other types of plastic are multi-layer packaging or composite plastic.

Mayonnaise, ketchup and other sauces, seasonings, juices, jams, ready-made soups and cereals that require heating, sold in bags. Such bags are made from multilayer combined films. The choice of film depends on the properties of the product, the period and conditions of its storage. Soups, cereals, main courses are packed in bags of films with a high melting point. Dishes in such packaging can be heated in the microwave or boiled directly in the bag. Such dishes withstand temperatures from -40 to +230 ° C and more. But physiologists still advise eating them less often.

Dishes made of melamine (polymerized formaldehyde) - it is white, shiny (reminiscent of porcelain), weighs lighter, does not break. When tapped, melamine dishes emit not a sonorous, but a deaf echo.

It is extremely dangerous to use such dishes. For the durability of dishes, asbestos can be added to it, which is prohibited even in construction (such dishes come to Russia from Turkey, Jordan and China). It cannot be used for hot food. When hot water is poured into a melamine dish, the formaldehyde begins to dissolve in the water. Formaldehyde and asbestos can cause cancerous tumor. To keep the drawing on such a plate for a long time, paints containing heavy metals, primarily lead, are used.

Municipal educational institution secondary

Secondary school №4 Ak-Dovurak

Research work on the topic:

"Plastic Waste"

Teacher: Saryglar Alexander Aiyzhyevich

Student: Seremel Alimaa Rodikovna

I Introduction

II. The benefits and harms of plastic

1. Production of plastic products

2. Environmental issue

3. Plastic recycling

4. "Second" life of plastic

III. Conclusion

IV. List of used literature

I Introduction

Plastic (plastic)- This is a material obtained by artificial means. Plastic is made by joining together long chains of molecules called polymers. Depending on how these chains of polymers are connected, the properties of the plastic depend. Hard plastics very often replace metal in car manufacturing.

Nowadays it is impossible to imagine a world without plastic and plastic products. But, despite the everyday occurrence and prevalence of such products, plastic appeared recently - about 150 years ago.

The scientist and inventor Alexander Parks from Birmingham was the first to receive plastic. Using nitrocellulose, alcohol and camphor in his experiments, he obtained a substance that he called parkesin and showed it for the first time at an international exhibition in London in 1862.

But despite their properties, plastic products cause great harm to our nature. They pollute it.

Relevance: about 50 years ago, mankind invented a plastic bottle. Today, millions of bottles are produced and discarded each year. And every year the waste from plastic bottles is growing, due to the fact that there is an increasing number of products that are packaged in plastic bottles. A huge amount of garbage on the streets of the city makes you think about the question: what to do with a plastic bottle?

Research problem lies in the contradiction between the positive properties of plastic and those environmental problems that arise as a result of environmental pollution with waste that has not decomposed for centuries.

Target: to encourage others to think about the important environmental problem of our planet on the example of people polluting the environment with plastic waste.

Tasks:

1. Find out what plastic is and when plastic products appeared.

2.Learn about the possibilities of recycling a plastic bottle.

3. To be interested in the possibilities of creating many interesting and useful things from plastic.

4. Create an exhibition.

Object of study: waste plastic bottles and packaging

Subject of study: recyclable bottles

Research methods: studying literature and information on the Internet, creating with the help of classmates an exhibition of crafts from plastic bottles and packaging.

Hypothesis: If plastic waste is polluting the environment, then by approaching this problem creatively and economically, we can find many ways to use plastic that will save our money and preserve nature.

II. Chapter

The benefits and harms of plastic.

About 50 years ago, mankind invented the plastic bottle. The first samples weighed 135 g, now it weighs 69 g. The production of plastic products is increasing from year to year. These are bottles, cans, bags, film, adhesive tape, folders, packaging and many other products. The amount of plastic waste is also increasing, which not only litter the environment, but also pollute it.

Every year on the planet in the ocean, entire islands are formed from plastic waste. There is a giant floating debris pile in the Pacific Ocean. It poses a huge threat to the inhabitants of the sea and birds, as well as human health. Fish with plastics in the blood may end up on our table tomorrow.

Scientists say that the stomachs of dolphins and whales are 50% full of plastic waste. Many birds die because fish eat this plastic. The landfill in the ocean is so huge that it can even be seen from space.

Plastic does not decompose over time. For example: paper decomposes in the ground - 1 month, and a plastic bottle - 450 - 500 years The question arises: where to put the plastic waste that we throw away?

Burn plastic waste it is forbidden ! When plastic is burned, phosgene gas is released, which has been known since the First World War as a chemical warfare agent (the last known case of poisoning by plastic combustion products is the tragedy at the Lame Horse club). When burning, acrid smoke does not dissipate, but settles on beds, trees and shrubs, but that's not all! During combustion, the most toxic substances are formed - dioxins, which cause a serious risk of developing cancer, asthma, and allergies. These substances must not be allowed to settle on plants and get into food.

Plastic products must be recycled. At present, the problem of processing such waste is relevant not only in connection with environmental protection, but also in connection with the shortage of polymer raw materials. From 1 kg of waste, 0.8 kg of secondary raw materials are obtained

Plastic recycling consists of several stages:

collection, sorting, pressing, processing (cutting, washing, drying, production of regranulate), production of new products.

Tons of garbage can be collected, pressed and handed over to special factories, they will process it, and thus make waste-free production. We have a container for collecting plastic waste near the house.

About a third of recycled plastic is used to make fibers for carpets, synthetic fabrics, and clothing. Large size fibers are used as insulation in sportswear, sleeping bags, as a filler for soft toys.

Recycled plastic is used to make the fibers used to make man-made wool used for knitted shirts, sweaters and scarves. For example, it takes approximately 25 recycled bottles to make a warm faux wool sweater.

Recycled fabric is cheap and environmentally friendly. Plastic is painted in one color or another, so it does not need to be painted. During the World Cup in South Africa, football jerseys were made from this fabric.

Plastic bottles can be found in every home. They are not only different in size, but also in color. Empty plastic bottles are a material that can be used for crafts of both the simplest and more complex works, which will become a worthy decoration for the interior of the house and yard. This material for creativity comes to us completely free of charge. Everything can be made from plastic.

In Africa, they built a house out of plastic bottles, while others created a boat. Wonderful sculptures adorn yards, flower beds, garden plots.

150,000 kilometers across the Pacific Ocean, such a journey was made by a ship built from plastic bottles that arrived in Australia. The action was held to support the protest against the pollution of the oceans with plastic waste. Within 128 days, the ship, consisting of 12,500 plastic bottles, crossed the Pacific Ocean and landed in the port of the city of Sydney.

III.Conclusion

In doing this work, I learned that due to such properties as lightness, elasticity, strength, plastic takes up more and more space in a person's life, but it cannot be destroyed after use. Plastic packaging does not decompose, and when burned, toxic substances are released.

Thus, I concluded that plastic should be collected and recycled so as not to pollute the environment.